It's Officially The End

“Leonard Eisen. Lucas Lochner-Bravo.” One by one, they announced the names of the Ivy League Connection’s newest members.  “Adrianne Ramsey.”  As the room filled with applause and congratulations, I found myself inching towards the exit. There was no way that I had been accepted—all of the other applicants were much better choices; they were far more gifted than me, not to mention more articulate and charming. I braced myself as the interviewers began to announce the fourth and final name. “Oluwatomi Balogun.”

It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly half a year since my name was called that day. The process following my acceptance into the Ivy League Connection was certainly a long and stressful one, but the end result was certainly worth all the effort. Now that a little over a week has passed since returning home, I would like to take the time to reminisce about my trip.

The first seven days of in New York were arguably the most eventful part of our trip. Each day we visited one of the nation’s most esteemed campuses, each one with its own breathtaking landscape and unique atmosphere.  I’m really apprentice of our tours and information seminars, as it was through theses means that I was able to realize what kind of school I would like to attend.

This trip has helped realize how close-minded I’ve really been. Before this trip, the only school I wanted to go to was UC Berkeley. I couldn’t even give a legitimate reason as to why I wanted to go besides “It’s a good school.” Through my experiences, I’ve come to ask myself a very important question: “Do I want to go to UC Berkeley because I think that it’s right school for me or do I want to go to UC Berkeley because everyone else wants to go to UC Berkeley?”  While I still plan on applying to UC Berkeley, I also would like to apply to Columbia University, UPenn, and New York University. Not only because they’re great schools, but also because I love their environments and I can honestly see myself being successful whilst attending anyone of these schools.

One thing that I certainly won’t forget about this trip would be the dinners. I honestly can’t remember a time where I was even a little bit hungry; if I wasn’t already full from a previous meal, then I was sure to more than make up for it during the next. I was treated to some of the best food that I’ve ever had in my entire life. Not only was the food always cooked to perfection, but their presentation was fabulous as well. However, I think that my favorite part of our dinners were the conversations. Thanks to our entertaining and knowledgeable alumni, our dinners were able to become as fond and memorable as they are today.

Our first week in New York ended all too quickly; it was hard to believe that in the timeframe of just one week I went from touring some of our country’s top schools to actually attending one.  My time at Columbia University is something that I will never forget.

I already find myself missing my friends and suitemates. I spent three weeks getting to know them, and knowing that we’ll most likely never see each other again is rather upsetting. While it’s true that we’ve exchanged contact information, it’s certainly not the same as sharing a room or dormitory.

I absolutely adored my Constitutional Law class. My classmates and instructors were amazing; I thoroughly enjoyed our class discussions and debates; it was a never-ending battle of wits in that class. Needless to say, I was able to fulfill my goal of exposing myself to new viewpoints. Whether or not I agreed with the opinion at hand, I would take the time to compare another person’s views with my own views in order to get a better idea of my own beliefs.  Because of this class, I was able to learn about both constitutional law and the importance of opinion and interpretation. Personally, I believe that it is necessary to be versed in both fields in order to become a model citizen, making the things that I learned in this class valuable both in and out of the classroom. As I said before, I really loved this course; a part of me even wishes that it have been a year-round, rather than just three weeks.

As for trips, I’m sad to say that most of my Top 15 Picks were left unfulfilled. However, that’s not to say that I didn’t have fun regardless. In fact, quite the opposite is true. I was able to visit so many famous sights, some of which that I had never before thought of going to. Some of my favorites were the Rockefeller Center’s Top of the Rock, Central Park, and the fireworks display on the Hudson River. This trip also marked many firsts for me, such as my first time on a boat and my first time on a skyscraper.

Never in my life would have I ever imagined myself in New York City—but as luck would have it, I was just there a week ago.  This trip was probably one of the best experiences in my life, and thanks to this blog, I’ll be able to remember practically every minute of it.While there's still a few weeks of summer vacation left, there's certainly nothing that can top this trip. 

Although, I thanked everyone in a previous post, I would like to make a few special mentions. I would like to thank Mrs. Kronenberg, Mr. Ramsey, and Don Gosney. Without their time and efforts, the Ivy League Connection wouldn’t even exist. These three people have helped countless students expand their horizons and achieve things they may have thought impossible. I also like would like wholeheartedly thank them for impacting my life for the better. I’m incredibly grateful.

In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen

We waited anxiously in the room for minutes, but they all felt like hours. We waited, the time ticked away as we clicked our pens and glanced around nervously, wondering who was ultimately going to be chosen by the panelists. We stepped inside the silent rooms one by one, hoping to impress our interviewers with our personalities and ideas. The room was silent, and around the dark wooden conference table sat 6 worthy individuals, from lawyers, to experienced teachers, acting as our interviewers for the day. One seat stood out, however, one seat was completely empty. Every gap around the table was filled with one individual, but one. That was left for us. We sat at the head of the table, across from a tripod. On that tripod was one of the most intimidating factors of the whole experience; the video camera. While our every move, our every breath, and our every stutter was recorded on tape, it did not just end there. Our every smile, glance, and gesture was also documented by the flashing camera that cased around us while we spoke. The questions were all equally challenging and thought provoking, but we all endured the intimidating environment while also answering each question impressively. Once the 10th and final question was answered and the last drop of nervous sweat secretly glided down our foreheads, we rose with confidence and pride, shaking each and every hand in that room and walked out that room with bold smiles. We emerged into the waiting room once more, the hours now felt like days as it was finally approaching the time where the six panelists chose the worthy ones for admission into the Ivy League Connection and redemption of the generous scholarships granted by the independent sponsors. Finally, they chose us all to re-enter the room, this time, all together. One by one we entered, our hearts beating rapidly, our minds filled with doubt; was I really going to be the one chosen to attend Columbia University? Suddenly, in the midst of her speech, Mrs.Kronenberg said my name. I felt like the world around me just stopped, no sort of sound glided through time, no movement emerged, nothing. Everything just stopped. A tear of joy ran down my cheek; I was one of the only two chosen in that interview for Presidential Powers to study at Columbia University in the city of New York.

From day one, my experiences as a proud member of the Ivy League Connection has never seized to amaze me. On June 18th 2012, my fellow cohort and I left to New York city in a stretch white limo. From the start of our  trip, our journey began with luxury, a reward for our accomplishments thus far you may suppose. Our first week in New York, we toured from restaurant to restaurant, visited different colleges, met with different alumni, admission officers, and students alike, speaking to each in regards to their experiences at different universities. There, we not only enjoyed the rich, tasty meals at each of the best restaurants in the big apple, but what we enjoyed even more was the rich conversations we had with each unique individual.

My Suite

After our first week, we took our first steps on the campus we soon called home, the campus to Columbia University. We walked that day with baby steps, and we soon left that campus emerging like giants that had gained their height by soaking up all the information and the rich culture around them. It wasn't only that we were studying at a world class institution, we were also in a new world that was so different from the one we came from and for the first time, we were completely independent and alone. Our parents left us the time they said their final goodbyes at El Cerrito High School, that entire month we were alone, and our responsibility, maturity, and independence took over in the bustling city know as New York. There, us 6 teenagers soon learned a life time of experiences with endless challenges on each path we took.

At Columbia university, Aurea and I studied Presidential Powers at Home and Abroad with Dr.Porwancher whom had received his PhD from Cambridge. He was a very intelligent professor, of course, but he also had a bright and humorous personality that never allowed for a dull moment in his class. Each morning, Aurea and I would wake up, eat breakfast at John Jay dining hall, and head to Schermerhorn for our first two hour session of class. There we sat around the conference table for our "discussion seminar," where we discussed each challenging article we read the night before. Every night before class, I would sit in my room under the dim lighting of my work lamp and read the articles assigned to us. However, I would not just read it, I would analyze it, make inferences based on my reading, and draw conclusions and evaluations as well. Then the next day in class, I would constantly raise my hand and contribute the most I could to the class at all times. Each and every day, I never failed to come to class unprepared.

After those two hours, we would take a break for lunch and then went straight back to work. This time, we spent the remainder of our two hours at the beautiful Butler library. This was probably my second home at Columbia University, the place where I spent the majority of my time on campus. There we went from room to room looking for our books and our sources. Why? Because throughout or month in Columbia University, Aurea and I were writing a 20 page research paper for our class. The amount of time we worked on those papers far exceeded the two hours we spent at the library each day, however. Many times Aurea would go back to her room and nap, then later come to the library and work for the rest of the night on her paper. I, on the other hand, never enjoyed the luxury of napping throughout my stay, but I constantly stayed in Butler library until closing time simply working on my paper. The topic I chose was definitely a hard one, nonetheless. I chose to write about how media affects political images and success because I wanted to challenge myself. However, I failed to realize that a 20 page college research paper is definitely a challenge within itself (especially since it was the first research paper I had ever written). The topic was challenging because it was almost like merge between media studies and political sciences, and aside from that, it was really difficult to find primary sources. Others chose to write about one particular president or once particular incident, but my topic went into detail in regards to a few different presidencies and incidents alike. Thankfully, after all the risks I took by choosing that topic and the hard work I put into the development of my paper, it all finally paid off. My professor sent me my paper back in the mail with a personal comment at the end written, "Morvarid, you've done some very solid research and amalgamated a lot of interesting material into a coherent and explanatory framework." Those words were the words I really looked forward to every day I typed away my nights on my laptop in Butler library. Later, he also mentioned in a different message, "I was very pleased with your performance." These simple phrases carved a smile on my face that I will never forget. The feeling of success that blossomed in my heart was a true feeling of joy, and for that I was very thankful.

Our first session class.

I remember the first day of class, I walked into the room when everyone was very stiff as they were still very unfamiliar with their new classmates. While everyone was looking down awkwardly and played nervously with their hands, I walked in with a smile and sat at the end of the table and introducing myself to those who had been sitting at the same table for quite a while but probably did not each other's names.  From that moment on, we all became very good friends despite the fact that we all came from different areas of the world. Some were from China, others from Korea, and some were very local and lived in New York. To my surprise, one was very close to my home, he was from Southern California. Another, was even closer to where I consider home, he was Iranian. The rich and varied culture we created in that class allowed us to not only learn about the topics discussed in class every day, but also from each other, our cultures, our identities, our ways of thinking, and our different beliefs. 

Every night before sleeping at Hartley Hall, I could count with my fingers the amount of new students I had met. Every moment before I closed my eyes and fell deep into my sleep, I could count the different cultures I had been introduced to. ILC students can all say they attended a prestigious university, but no one but the Columbia students had the advantage of the New York experience. It wasn't just the different environment, but it was also what we were exposed to as well that created such an impact.

My lovely Cohort.

As for my cohort itself, I'd like to take this time to thank each and every one of them for the great time we had together. Our time in New York felt like months rather than weeks, and I'm so glad we have all became so close. Without all of you, this trip would have definitely not been as fun as it was. You were all what made every second what it was. I can't remember one day not laughing until my belly hurt without you all, or even one day where I wasn't looking forward to seeing your smiling faces. Seeing you all brightened up each of my days from June to July, and I definitely cannot wait to see you all once again. From Lucas, to Lenny, Aurea, Adrianne, and Tomi, I'd like to take the time to tell you guys that you all have special place in my heart and I care for you all tremendously. I hope you all enjoyed my company as much as I did yours. I hope I never offended anyone or hurt anyone in anyway! If I did, I deeply apologize. You are all like brothers and sisters to me, and with Mrs.L, we complete a family. Thank you so much Mrs.L for the amazing time we had with you throughout our trip. You have such a beautiful smile that made every day even better than it was. Thanks for being patient with us and taking care of us in New York City, just as if we were your own kids. I miss you already and I hope to see you soon! Nonetheless, thank you so much to the sponsors that made it possible for us to have this life changing experience, and the Ivy League Connection, Don, Mr.Ramsey, and Mrs.Kronenberg that believed in us and created the Ivy League Connection for students like us. Last but not least, I would like to send a great "thank you" to my professor and TA, Professor Andrew Porwancher and Kelsey Kearns for being the great instructors they were and giving us the best possible experience in our classroom environment. I truly enjoyed the course and they were both very inspirational. All I look forward to now is to apply to Columbia University, this time as an official student. Long story short, I always liked the school, but now I passionately love it!

The key to my dreams.

Now on a different note, we may be back from our trip outside of California, but our adventure does not end quite there. We have just finished a chapter in the new book we have unveiled, and now a new chapter will emerge. In this chapter, we will use the experiences we have acquired in Columbia University to give back to our community and the students in our schools. Everything we have learned will now transfer to our students for we are ambassadors in our own community. The Ivy League Connection has allowed us to absorb all of this information and now it's time to clench the thirst of the thousands of students at home that were not chosen by the ILC and inspire them on their journey towards college by giving them all the necessary information we can for their success. Like Columbia's motto,  "In lumine Tuo videbimus lumen"(light shall we see light). Now it is time for our students to see that light, and we will act as the transfer to guarantee this to happen. With our dedication to both our school and community, we will hold ourselves responsible for this and will not give up until we see this through.

Summer of a Lifetime

My journey to New York did not begin on June 18th. It began in October, with the Pinole Valley High School College Fair, at the ILC booth run by Alex Elms and Don Gosney. This was not my first time hearing about the program or meeting Don, but it was when things really began. The road from then until now has been a long, difficult, and undoubtedly rewarding one, that I know will have a lasting impact on my life. 

I think I can break up my trip into two chronological sections: the first week, and then the following three. They differed greatly. When we first arrived in New York, we were constantly on the move. It was really exciting. One moment we would be at UPenn, and the next we would be having dinner by Central Park. We did so much in each day, that I honestly thought more time had passed than actually had; every time I thought of "yesterday," it would feel like several days ago.

The highlight of that first week wasn't the extravagant dinners, or the excitement of NYC, or even learning about amazing schools. For me, it was getting to have conversations with the students and alumni of the colleges we visited. It didn't matter if it was at a Cuban lunch, a Greek dinner, or while walking through a Universities quad; the profound insight they can give us into what life at their school is like is priceless. 

On a brief side note, I also enjoyed the train rides. I wish public transit in California was as extensive and mainstream as it is back East. It's a far more efficient, Eco-friendly, and enjoyable way to travel. I know there are a lot of factors limiting such a system existing out West, but it would be nice to have. 

The second portion of our trip was very different from the first. While before, we had been constantly on the move, we were now spending most of our time in one place. That's not to say that it was less exciting, but it was certainly more relaxing. 

I spent my last three summers taking classes at UC Berkeley in the Academic Talent Development Program. It was a great experience, but it doesn't even compare to my time at Columbia. The sheer number of different regions and cultures represented made the population a micro-UN. 2/3 of the residential students were from other countries. I can't say that they come from ALL backgrounds though, as nearly everyone there was a private school student and came from a privileged home. You need to have a high income to be able to send your child to the program, especially if you are from out of state. It seems that the ILC is the only program of its kind, because everyone I talked to said their parents were paying for the trip and were amazed to hear that my school district sent students there for free. This is yet another opportunity to thank the sponsors. I'm realizing more and more how lucky I am to have had this experience. Most people can't say they took a class at Columbia while in high school, let alone with the expenses paid for by benefactors. 

I made a lot of friends in this program. Thank goodness for the internet, because it's the only way we can stay in  touch. I'm still in contact with people from New York, Florida, Canada, the Netherlands, India, China, Australia and farthest of all, Los Angeles.

The high light of my trip was definitely the class. I may have already said this, but this was the best coarse I've EVER taken. Everything about it was fantastic. The material was interesting, and I've already been able to apply what I've learned to my conversations back home. The other students were all brilliant, though most would never admit it. A large portion (if not the majority) of the class time was spent on discussions, which were intelligent and constructive. When opinions came into play they were always backed by solid logic. Most importantly, the teachers were amazing. They were a really dynamic combination. Jeffrey usually led the teaching of the cases, while Luke led discussions concerning the theories behind the Constitution. They were always really good at explaining things, and usually did it with a sense of humor. They understood that many things about our nation's history seem ridiculous to us today, and they both capitalized on that to keep our attention. I'm still blown away by how much we all enjoyed and thrived in this environment. 

It wasn't all study, though. I found time nearly everyday to explore the city with Resident Advisors, fellow students, Ms. Lilhanand, and of course, my cohort. I saw the beach, parks, museums, restaurants, Time Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, NYU, and plenty of upper Manhattan, I only saw three of the five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens), but I can't imagine having had time to see the other two. I think my favorite experience was going to the Neon Trees concert. The rush of being so close to the bands, surrounded by friends was, for lack of a better word, awesome. 

In general, I loved New York. The skyline, the art, the performers in the subway, the food: it was all fantastic. That being said, I don't miss it. New York's a great city, and I may even want to live there some day, but right now, I'm glad to be home. There's something different about the atmosphere in the Bay. People seem more relaxed, even in the cities. Maybe it's just because I grew up here, but this area is just more comfortable for me. I may have gotten used to tall buildings and an unforgiving sun, but I think I still prefer, homes in the hills and a nice cool breeze. Sorry NYC, but Bay Life is where it's at.

I guess that pretty much wraps up my experience out East. This is the most amazing summer I've ever had. I think the most profound thing I've gained from this trip (besides memories) are the ideas that have formed in me. I can't really show this through my blog, but I've grown over the last month. My class and my experiences have taught me so much, and I'm beginning to develop opinions and beliefs based on them. I have a better idea of what I'm good at and what I'm passionate about. For example, I now believe that the Constitution needs to be reformed. I didn't want to write about any of my views on this until I had completed the class, but I now think that if the Constitution is to accurately reflect the beliefs of the people it has power over, it needs to be re-written every generation. The morals of the current American people are different from those of the very limited pool of legislators back when it was written. I also believe that the Supreme Court has too much power when it comes to Constitutional interpretation, so we need a more specific document that is easier to change. This will most accurately reflect the changing views of the people. I don't think that the beliefs of the hundred or so rich, land and slave owning, white, christian and male writers of the Constitution reflect that of our extremely diverse nation. Of course, this is only my own opinion, and I'm sure the other students in the class came to their own unique conclusions. I just wanted to express my beliefs in what may be my last blog entry.

I'll sign off by thanking you, the readers. Who ever you may be, you are the reason we wrote this. Wanting to impress you is what kept us trying to outdo ourselves with each new entry. I hope my posts stayed interesting and that you enjoyed and learned from them. Sorry that this one lacked photos, but I've already shared most of them with you. If it's any consolation, below is my favorite picture from this trip. I took it on a train returning to Manhattan from New Haven, CT. Once again, I hope you enjoyed what you read. Thank you.

A Check off the Old Bucket List

February 10^th, 2012. I don’t think there was a time in my life that I was so anxious, excited and relieved. With the support of my peers, family, and friends, I finally accomplished a goal in life I thought I would never achieve; I was selected in the Ivy League Connection. As clichéd as it sounds, no words can describe the instant that my name was called to go the American Presidential Powers course at Columbia University for the summer. It’s funny to think that I kept my composure while talking to the panel, Mr. Ramsey and Don Gosney but once I stepped foot out the room I squealed like a fan girl- along with Morvarid Mehdizadeh of course.

Fast forward about three months and eight days later, and all the preparation the 2012 Columbia cohort received finally was put to use. The tutorial, dinner, meetings and orientation built the momentum for out departure to the Big Apple. Here we were, a group of six California teens flying about three thousand miles away from home with a chaperon for a month in the bustling city of New York. Yes, it’s still unbelievable to even me that I was part of such an experience.

Before the Columbia Experience

Most people associate this trip with the course the students took but often forget the enriching trips we had along the way. Before stepping foot on Columbia’s campus, we stayed at the Beacon hotel for the beginning duration. But do not mistake our first week as relaxed- it was everything but that. We bounced back and forth between college campuses- even states- trying to fit as much activities into our first week.

We began each morning and ended each night the same way; bright and early to start the day while dark and exhausted to end the night. We visited Sarah Lawrence College, University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Vassar College, and New York University- although the latter wasn’t until our third week into the trip. The group listened to information sessions for each school and toured the campuses, taking in as much detail for memory. Being a rising senior, I knew these opportunities to see different college environments were vital to the upcoming application process. Schools that I once thought were for me turned out not to be. Now I have a better idea to what I want in my education after secondary school. Medium sized campuses with an urban or suburban setting are a must with me along with study abroad programs. I’m happy to announce that my college list has drastically shifted from California based schools to out-of-state schools, such as a one in Hawaii and a few in New York. I know my family won’t be too thrilled with my decision but a good four years outside of Cali will be good for me.

Along with our college sight-seeing were dinners with alumni from the above schools. Unfortunately we were unable to meet with Sarah Lawrence and NYU alumni, but the dinners with Yale, UPenn, Vassar, and Columbia alums made the experience even more elevating. Not only did I learn valuable information about the colleges the alumni and admission officers were representing but I learned general college tips that most students my age would never think to ask of. Colleges don’t want the perfect model students who work like robots; they want unique individuals who will impact the campus in such a dynamic way that may be deemed as inconceivable. I learned that one does not have to major in a specific concentration to have one’s dream career. I learned that one should be as true to one’s self when writing a personal statement; don’t use clichéd, dramatic happenings in one’s life, write about what’s shaped the character of one’s self. I learned that networking is probably the greatest resource and skill a college student have when defining his/her career. And finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help when needed.

During the Columbia Experience

After a week of non-stop action- okay, we did get a few hours of sleep in during the nights- we began what the donors and sponsors poured their money into, the Columbia High School Summer Program. And of course the time and effort from the ILC staff. Thus was the start of a three week course I will never forget.

To start off, residential advisors for the Columbia High School Program laid down the rules. The most important of all is to ALWAYS make it back before curfew. If one’s late, depending on the duration of one’s tardiness, consequences vary. Also security at Columbia University is very strict. Most buildings, if not all, require students to have a Columbia identification card.

Residential advisors also planned trips around NYC. From eateries to Broadway plays, students were able to tour the city with a group. But if students didn’t want to go on a planned RA trip, students were given the freedom to go out as long as they notified their RA’s of their whereabouts. I had the pleasure to see Maroon 5 on the Today Show, see the 4^th of July fireworks at Riverside Park, see the Bodies Exhibit and Seaport Village, visit Coney Island and the beach, walk the Brooklyn Bridge, go on a Sunset Cruise, and of course go shopping on 5^th Avenue and Macy’s. Whether it be fun or work, NYC will always keep you busy.

Dorm life for me at Columbia University was adequate; I had the necessities- a bed, sheets, pillow, desk, bathroom, and air conditioning. I, along with Lucas, Lenny, Adrianne, and Tomi, stayed in the Carman building while Morvarid stayed in the Hartley building. Carman dorms consist of two double rooms and one bathroom. I say adequate because it wasn’t the nicest dorm on campus but I could have had it worse by staying at John Jay, where the whole floor had to share a bathroom.

My roommate was fresh graduate from a high school in Hong Kong and was taking the College Prep class. Unfortunately she left the program early for a college interview back in Hong Kong, so I had the whole room to myself for the last week. My floor was comprised of many different girls. In my RA group, I met a girl from Greece, New Jersey, and other parts of the world. Columbia’s High School program for this summer had more international students than usual, so we all had our fair share of cultural learning along the way.

I know you’ve all read about the fun aspect of my trip but it wasn’t all fun and games. With my American Presidential Powers class, I was required to go to a two hour session in the Schermerhorn building then another session at a library. For me, the class was less rigorous as I anticipated. My first session consisted of discussions on fifteen to twenty page articles on presidential power. Then my second session was devoted to researching for my paper. The best advice I can give to anyone taking this class in the future is to manage your researching and writing. No one wants to be up finishing one’s paper till dawn- although this didn’t happen to me, just very late into the night.

My favorite part of the class was probably the debate we had on court cases. Like the Constitutional Law students, we debate two sides of the case and legality of it. Court case debating is definitely different from the type of debating I do- which is policy debating- so it was a learning process for me along the way.

My professor was laid back and not only taught us the class but college prep tips as well. Professor Porwancher laid down his college experiences and the best advice I gained from his class was to never be upset about not getting into the “best colleges.” It should never put down one’s own spirit when going to school. Although the one thing my professor wanted me to take from the course was to learn to qualify my argument and frame it to a more sophisticated one; I know, I liked the college tidbit better.

Along my journey at NYC I made not only close friends with my cohort but with others as well. Although I met lots of people, from Australia to Turkey, the two I bonded with the most outside of my cohort were Rowland and Brittany. Rowland is a rising senior from southern California while Brittany is a rising junior from Texas. Our group slowly incorporated the two and we all got along wonderfully, cracking jokes at each other here and there. But other than our laughs, we also had meaningful talks to learn about each other, such as our backgrounds and where we would go to college. The two became so inclusive of our group that Ms. L even knew the two!

After the Columbia Experience

Sadly my twenty-six days at NYC had to end and now I’m back here in the Bay Area. Although I loved the Big Apple, home is such a nice place to be. I know that I would love to go out of state, preferably New York, for college but I couldn’t stay there the rest of my life.

For me, this trip has made my college decisions bounce back and forth. I thought that engineering was always for me but learning from my actual course and the alumni dinners made me realize that it may be not for me. Engineering would be something I would be good at but in the end I don’t know for sure if it’s something I would do for the rest of my life. Political science has never been so tempting to me before along with a psychology. I know, two different ends of the spectrum.

Due to my fickle heart and mind when regarding my future, I’ve actually narrowed down my college choice list. I’m now down to eight schools that I’m applying to; Boston University, Columbia University, New York University, Sarah Lawrence College, Stanford University, Syracuse University, University of California Berkeley, and University of Hawaii Manoa. I don’t plan to apply early decision anywhere since my mind is having an internal struggle with itself. Who knew the future could be so stressing?

Since my last blog was inadequate in my thank you’s, I’d just like to give them here:

Ms. L, thank you for being such a great chaperon. Actually the word chaperon doesn’t bring to justice the role you played for us while at NYC. For me, you were literally a second mommy to me while on the East Coast. You read all of us like an open book, especially me when I was on my off days. You were lenient yet strict when dealing with our outings and were always available when needed.

Columbia University High School Summer Program staff, thank you for the opportunity of a life time. Being able to study at such a prestigious school was such an honor. Thank you especially to Darlene Giraitis, the director of the summer program, who will be retiring after twenty-four years. And of course, Andrew Porwancher, the professor for the American Presidential Powers course, who taught me that better arguments aren’t always the obvious. My enriching trip would not have been so without their key roles in my learning experience.

Pinole Valley High School ILC staff, thank you for the help and support. Dyana So and Alex Elms are two students I would like to acknowledge separately due to their help. Without your advice and guidance, I probably wouldn’t have made it into the ILC. I’d also like to thank Mr. Wilson, who not only helped me with my essay and interview but with my research paper as well. His assistance on what would be a better thesis for my paper really helped me frame my essay into such a complex argument.

Ivy League Connection staff and sponsors, thank you for the life-defining trip on the East Coast. No words can explain my gratitude to such an amazing organization which lets middle class students go on an opportunity of a lifetime. I’d like to especially thank Mr. Ramsey for the hard work he puts into the program, such as planning functions and finding sponsors. Thank you Ms. Kronenberg for going back and forth on the East Coast and checking up on how we’re doing as a group and how we plan to give back. Thank you Don Gosney for all the time and labor you put into the program, from emails to personally delivering items and letters. And of course, thank you all the sponsors who have invested their money into an incredible trip. Your investments will not be wasted, especially when the ILCers give back to our community.

The 2012 Columbia Cohort, thank you for such a fun experience. Due to such a different group, from sense of humor to morals, conversation was never dull with any of you guys. Lucas, thank you for your patient, calm, and honest disposition. Having you around always made us mindful of others and courteous. Plus we would never get lost in NYC with you! Lenny, thank you for your sense of humor and witty remarks. Although half of them did provoke teasing, your remarks lightened up the mood. Tomi, thank you for your quiet and down to earth personality. Although you were silent for a few moments, the impact of what you said always left me amazed and laughing. Morvarid, thank you for your cheery personality. Not matter what the situation, you always tried to look past the negative aspect and work something out. And finally Adrianne, thank you for being you. Although some people may find your disposition bold, I admired that aspect of you, since not many people can truly be themselves around everyone.

Although my summer at NYC has ended, that doesn’t mean the ILC won’t hear from me. I plan on keeping in touch with as many people as possible. Also for potential ILCers, don’t hesitate to ask me any questions. There’s a reason as to why the ILC picked us as ambassadors for our community, so feel free to ask for advice anytime. Once again thank you for the marvelous experience!

From the Mother of Adrianne Ramsey

It seems like ages since Adrianne pushed the trunk lid open, grabbed her suitcase, and joined her anxious, shivering cohort around 4:00 AM for their journey to The Big Apple and a Columbia University summer program. Don Gosney's friendly, yet informative presence, and Cheryl Lilhanand's polished attentiveness eased our separation.

Over the course of weeks, I envied the variety of sumptuous dinner plates, drank in eclectic photographic perspectives of various east coast towns and cities, and commiserated with students as they put in long hours of critical reading, note taking, rewrites, debate preparation, and daily blogs. Individual ILC student blogs continue to relate the fascinating mix of social and academic activities in which they participated. For example, I never knew a woman could devour 48 hot dogs in eight minutes at the Coney Island eating contest. There were just 29 competitive high school students in the Constitutional Law class at Columbia University.

Members of this cohort were not intimidated by subway nor train travel while in New York. In many cases, this cohort responded to challenging or unusual situations as a team. As a parent, I would like to take credit for the confidence my daughter exuded during her ILC experience. However, I am sure her veteran chaperone, Cheryl Lilhanand provided this group of ILC selected high school students with the kind of preparatory advice, sage direction, and personal accessibility that formed them into a consolidated cohort. I thank you, Cheryl, for graciously managing with care my daughter and the rest of the ILC cohort for a month in a mega-city at a prestigious university. I am most grateful that you dealt with my concerns abouth the availability of the reading material with such aplomb at an ungodly hour, as well.

As a witness to the blood, sweat, tears, readjustments, advocations, inquiries, refinements, and commitments of the team of dedicated public servants, private individuals, professional businesses, and working men's and women's institutions that continue to steward and fund The Ivy League Connection, I say to all ILC parents and ILC cohorts that showing our nation's top educational institutuions that West Contra Costa Unified School District students are willing and able to compete and contribute in their academic programs is a good thing! I am most thankful for the kind of program that showcases some of our best and brightest. Thank you, to all of the people that make this possible.

Now, here is some brief advice for the ILC cohorts: Education is like a bountiful meal. It is best shared with others. Please find a way to share your academic and social experiences with your peers. Let them know that it is all right to want to learn about the world in some way, that is good to seek help for what is not understood, to stop by a career center for college info, to attend a college presentation or two, to join your community in making the environment better. It may seem bothersome, yet you may be planting a good seed in the heart and soul of another.

Missing New York City

I spent an entire month in the city that never sleeps. Where do I begin? Instead of writing chronologically, I'm going to write in sections with included sub-sections to help the reader follow better.

A. Week One - College Tours, Dinners, Cohort Bonding 

Lucas, Aurea, and I in the limo on the way to the airport to leave to New York 

The first week of the trip was jam-packed. I knew Lucas from school, but I had only gotten few opportunities to talk to the other four members of our group at pre-summer ILC events. Fortunately, we were all able to get off on the right foot.

We toured five colleges - University of Pennsylvania, Sarah Lawrence College, Vassar College, Yale University, and New York University. I instantly fell in love with Sarah Lawrence and New York University, especially NYU, whose urban campus and academic excellence programs appealed to me. UPenn and Vassar didn't end up being fits for me, and while Yale excited me, I still couldn't see myself there. I really appreciated all the college tours. As a rising senior, I know what I'm looking for in a school - urban setting, middle to large sized campus, good extracurriculars and sports teams, and a great education system.

We also had three alumni dinners for UPenn, Vassar, and Yale. I really enjoyed meeting all the alums and gaining insight about the college application process. In addition, during my time in New York, I wrote the first draft of my personal statement and some of the alums reviewed my work and gave me pointers. Networking is an important concept to learn! People will always help you if you truly ask them to help.

Ms. L with Angela, Yohanna Pepa's roommate at Yale 

B. Columbia HSP 

1. Roommates/Dorm Life 

Lucas, Lenny, Morvarid, Aurea, Tomi, and I entered Columbia and were checked into the dorms. All of us except for Morvarid were in Carman Hall. Ms. L helped us find our dorms and we split up into different floors. I was quickly welcomed by my RA, Kristen. I then met my other four suitemates: Nas from Washington, D.C., Tori from New Jersey, Sangela from Hong Kong, Jennifer from Ohio, and Nathalie from Lebanon. Nathalie was my roommate, and Nas and Tori were in the room next to us. Jennifer and Sangela were roomed in the connecting suite. I soon met the other girls on my floor, who were all happy to be there and very welcoming.

Floor nights really helped me unwind and not worry about my work or the stress of the program. We would watch movies or TV shows, play cards, paint our nails, dance, eat pizza at midnight, and talk about our backgrounds. I would also take breaks from my homework to explain American economics to Nathalie, who was taking a business/economics course, and help her with her English. Everyone on my floor was really nice and welcoming.

2. Rules/RA Trips 

The Columbia program is fun but very, very strict. Curfew is taken very seriously. If you are one minute late, you are "grounded" and your curfew is set an hour earlier for the next night. The punishment worsens for each minute you are late. I did not agree with this strict policy, but followed it accordingly, and was never late to curfew. Security guards are posted in every residence hall, and each time you enter one, you have to have your security card swiped. Commuter students and guests weren't allowed in the dorms, and if rules were consistently broken students could be easily expelled. A boy was expelled the first week for being drunk on campus. This may sound daunting, but in all honesty the rules were easy to follow.

Since there is so much to do in New York City, the RAs went on trips just about every day! I participated in a couple of lunch/dinner clubs, went to the Museum of Natural History, witnessed 4th of July fireworks, saw Maroon 5 perform at the Today Show, and watched War Horse on Broadway! While all of these trips were expensive and expended my limited money, it was very worth it. I definitely gained new life experiences by going on RA trips. 

3. Constitutional Law - Overview 

I'm very personable and love to participate in class, especially history class, but this course was a different experience for me. I have high confidence so I won't say I was intimidated, but I was definitely surprised at the amount of high-level debaters and intellectuals in our class. I participated as best as I could and felt I did well, but I will say some of those intellectuals definitely stumped me and were great at shooting their hands into the air before everyone else. Nevertheless, I loved our discussions.

The class was split into morning and afternoon sessions. In the morning session, we would discuss the Supreme Court cases we read the previous night, which also led into a lecture and vocabulary overview. We had a fantastic reader and textbook that examined the flaws in the governmental system. During the afternoon session, we would either watch films, play constitutional jeopardy, participate in debates, or have another lecture. 

My team never won constitutional jeopardy, but I had fun nonetheless. The debates were a different story. I liked preparing for debates but never really had a good time participating in them. By the end of the course, I realized debating wasn't for me and I enjoyed watching one rather than participating. The films we watched in class were riveting. I learned about the Pentagon Papers, the Supreme Court system, and 9/11 Detainee camps. 

Going to the Southern District Court was another great adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Federal Judge Nathan and witnessing a case being presented in a court. It's all very different from television.

I learned so much from this course and was sad when it ended. I really enjoy political science and American history, and this was a perfect follow up from AP United States History and a great introduction to the United States Government. It was fascinating to see how much the Constitution has changed over time and scary to realize how contradictory and wrong our presidential administrations can be behind closed doors. 

One thing I especially learned from this class was this: I don't want to be a lawyer. Am I interested in political science majors and possibly becoming a law professor? Sure. But I can't argue for cases that I don't agree with. I have core values and trust me, I'll always stick to them. I don't like debating. I realized how much more I enjoy learning about the philosophical aspects of the cases and governmental system and writing legal arguments. I am grateful that I was able to discover my interests now instead of making a mistake in college and learning it then.

4. Research Paper 

Similar to Presidential Powers, we had to write a research paper for this course. However, there was a six page limit and not a 25 page one (thank goodness). The topic I chose was whether or not United States presidents should be allowed more powers during the case of a national emergency. My answer was a straight-up NO. 

I poured my heart and soul (literally) into this paper and proved my point by using Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Lyndon B. Johnson, and George W. Bush. I stated that President Roosevelt's Executive Order 9066, interning Japanese, Italian, and German Americans during World War II, was unconstitutional because it violated the internee's civil liberties. President Johnson's continuous lies to the American public should have been considered a violation of the first amendment since the lies prompted a clear and present danger to the American public by sparking American anti-war riots and protests. Finally, President Bush's Patriot Act violates the first, fourth, and fifth amendments of the United States constitution by stripping Americans of several civil liberties. All of these past presidential decisions in times of National Emergency are unconstitutional, along with many, many more. I could've written a whole novel on my stance. 

I received an A- on the paper and was satisfied. I agreed with the comments citing refinement that my professor gave me, and realized how much I enjoy writing legal arguments. At first I thought it would be difficult because I've only written moral arguments in the past. However, I proved myself wrong and found how easily the words poured out from within me.

5. Friends! 

I spent the majority of my time at Columbia with Morvarid, Aurea, Tomi, Lucas, and our two wonderful friends Rowland and Brittany. Rowland is from Los Angeles and Brittany is from Texas. Over the course of our trip, we had all our meals together and went to amazing places (Brooklyn Bridge with Rowland, retail shopping at Forever 21 with Brittany). I'm so glad I met them and had a fantastic time with them; I really did value Columbia HSP and it would not have been half as enjoyable if they weren't there.

Retail Shopping Time/Charlie's Angles 

C. College Decisions 

This was my 2nd year participating in the Ivy League Connection. Last summer I took Women and Leadership at Brown University, a much different experience than Columbia HSP. As a sophomore, I began to figure out what I liked in a school and what I wanted to study. But as a junior, I definitely know. Some people may call me and the other 2nd-year's selfish for doing this program again, but I dismiss their comments and am glad I did this again because I learned so much more about myself and about college. I realized I will always be a writer, born and bred, but that I'm more into a school's specific writing major, such as Creative Writing, more than the specific English major. I also realized how much I want to continue with political science. When I got home I narrowed down my lists of colleges. Let me tell you, it's a pretty big list! I know I still have searching to do. 

I definitely enjoyed my time in New York City. It was a wonderful experience. But when I started looking at my college list, I was not sure if I would apply to Columbia. I'm still deciding. While Columbia is a wonderful school, their Core Curriculum is too rigid and confined to me. I want to be able to take the classes I want to take when I am in college. There are also more factors, but the Core Curriculum is the main one. 

At this point, I am looking into Brown University, New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences, and Sarah Lawrence College, as well as other colleges/universities spread throughout the nation.

Times Square at night 

D. Thank You's! 

-Ms. L: Thank you for being the greatest chaperone and surrogate mother I've ever had! This trip would not have been the same without your strict but understanding rules, making sure we were all fed and getting enough sleep, and taking us to wonderful places. Best chaperone EVER, by far. 

-Jeffrey Lenowitz and Luke MacInnis: My two wonderful professors. I learned so much from the both of you and I thank you for helping me realize how much I love political science. 

-2012 Columbia Cohort: I love you all! Thanks for being some of the greatest friends I've met. We may've had bumps along the road but I'm grateful we were all able to solve them in a calm and civil manner and keep on going from there. You are all wonderful people and I'm glad I met you guys.

-Don Gosney: Thank you for really instilling the importance of replying to emails in me. If you don't reply, people will think you are wasting their time and even their investments in you. You put so much into the program, supplying us with loaner items (without that ethernet cord I would've died since Columbia has NO WIFI IN THEIR DORMS -.-) and taking gorgeous pictures of us. 

-Dad (I'm sorry, I can't call you Mr. Ramsey. Too formal! =D): Thank you for instilling the importance of good work, education, timeliness, and manners in me. Without these four concepts I would not be the person I am today. You put in so much effort and work in the program, which inspires me to work hard. And to dispell all the rumors, yes, my father does get a good amount of sleep at night. All of Ramsey's do. Seriously! 

-Madeline Kronenberg: Thank you so much for flying to New York to check up on us, go out to dinner with us, and see Vassar and Yale with us. I really enjoyed our conversations and your persistence that we bring something back to the community. I've been talking with a couple others at my high school and they think that doing an ILC information booth at Club Day would be a great help to the program. 

-ILC Sponsors: I can't thank you enough for putting in so much money for the program. This is truly a wonderful program and without my Brown and Columbia experiences, I have no idea where I would be now. A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU!

-Mom and Monica (my younger sister): Thanks for all the emails and phone calls with words of encouragement and wisdom. All the reminders to not stress and get enough sleep at night were very helpful. Love you both! 

E. Finale! 

My time in the ILC has been bittersweet and I am sad that it is over. But no worries, I won't be gone! If anybody has any questions/comments about Brown, Columbia, or the ILC, please feel free to send me an email or leave a comment on this blog. I'd really appreciate it and would love to help anyone in need. These past two summers have been the best.

Grazie! 

2012 ILC Columbia Cohort (from left to right: Aurea, Tomi, Lenny, me, Lucas, and Morvarid)